Argentina Flashcards
Argentina
General
5th global producer
Very dry wine regions
Zonda wind
Continental Climate
Grapes
Malbec, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Tempranillo
Torrontés, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
Reserva implies a minimum 6 months of aging for white wines and one year for reds; Gran Reserva indicates at least one year for whites and two for reds
Cuyo
Mendoza
Mendoza is the main region.
Produces 3/4 of the wine made in Argentina.
Malbec, Chardonnay
La Rioja
Northern region
Famatina Valley
Mostly Torrontés and Malbec
San Juan
Tulum, Zonda, Ullum, Jáchal, Calingasta, Pedernal and Fertil Valleys
Very warm, good for sherry-style wines
Mendoza
Mendoza is the largest wine-growing region in Argentina
Northern, Central (Upper), Southern, and Eastern sectors, and the Uco Valley.
Soils
loose, alluvial sand over clay
Irrigation is necessary (forrow or dripping irrigation)
Luján de Cuyo (one of the two DOC in Argentina) and Maipú are only authorized to grow Malbec
San Rafael (the other DOC)
Producers
Catena Zapata, Susana Balbo’s Dominio del Plata, Bressia, and Achával Ferrer
Zuccardi
Subregions Luján de Cuyo DOC Lavalle Maìpú Tupungato Rivadavia Santa Rosa Junín San Martin San Rafael DOC Valle de Uco
Northwest
Salta
Torrontés, but also Malbec and Syrah.
High altitude (3000m), colder climate.
Producers
Susana Balbo’s Crios, very recognized
Etchart
Patagonia
chalky soils and longer growing seasons
Rio Negro, Neuquén, and Chubut
Torrontés, Semillón
Malbec, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Producers
Bodegas Chacra
Bodegas Noemía
Bodegas del Fin del Mundo
Zonda Wind
Zonda wind is a type of foehn wind, that is, a dry, down-slope wind that occurs on the lee (downwind) side of a mountain range. The Zonda is a regional term used for this type of wind as it occurs over those parts of western Argentina tucked into the slopes of the Andes, including the wine regions of Mendoza, La Rioja, and San Juan. The wind is especially brutal in these areas due to the high altitude of the mountain range it must climb over (and swoosh down.)
The Zonda forms as a result of humid air rising off the Pacific Ocean, where it travels up and over the Chilean side of the Andes. In the winter it helps the snow build-up in the high elevations of the Andes, which provides the much-needed melt-off to the vineyards of South America each year.
In the spring and summer, however, the Zonda can create havoc as it descends down the Argentine side of the mountains. It loses its moisture, becomes warmer and warmer, and gathers up large clouds of dust. The Zonda generally rushes off the mountains at 25 miles per hour (40km/h) but can reach speeds of 120 miles per hour (~200 km/h). The Zonda can raise temperatures by as much as 54°F (30°C) in just a couple of hours; and the wind event is often followed by a freezing cold front. No wonder people go crazy!
While this unique weather phenomenon is a necessary part of the terroir of the region, it can also be disastrous to the vineyards. A Zonda in the spring can wind-burn a vine’s leaves and shoots or shake them right off the vine. The cold front that often follows the hot, dry wind can bring with it the risk of severe frost damage.
